Is there a single word that describes the state of not being happy with something but having to be satisfied with it?

Example:

I wanted to split the video into small segments. Programming this would take a lot of time, as there’s no managed interface for C# to the multi media SDK. So, instead of doing it programmatically and wasting time, I’ll have to be satisfied with using the Nero application.

Presumably OP sees nothing odd in using the word satisfied in his definition, which just goes to show how central circumlocution and vagueness are to the context.
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FumbleFingersAug 21 '11 at 12:50

English is my not my mother tongue, so I appologize if my question was not precise. I'll edit and give an example, and I'd really like - as an added bonus ;-) - to understand what's wrong with using "satisfied with" in this context...
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AviAug 21 '11 at 13:11

3

@Avi: Jasper is quite right. Native speakers also use "have to be satisfied" to mean "have no choice but to tolerate". My point was that we all use language like that, even though strictly speaking it doesn't make much sense to use the word "satisfied" in a context where we know we're "not happy" (i.e. - we're not satisfied).
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FumbleFingersAug 21 '11 at 16:44

19 Answers
19

Given the context, I would suggest "make do with" as in "I'll have to make do with using Nero." This suggests the solution to your problem is suboptimal but workable. I would argue that to "resign oneself" to something is a bit too strong for this case. One might resign oneself to a life of thankless toil, or to never achieving one's Olympic dreams, whereas one might make do with a pair of flip flops that are too large. A suboptimal software solution seems closer to the second case.

Given the context, I think this is what I'll use. Of course, as mentioned, I'm not a native English-ian :), but this feels right. Lesson learnt and will always provide context :). Thanks all for helping!
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AviAug 21 '11 at 16:57

It sounds a bit out of place in the example sentence though, which seems to be pretty colloquial. This seems more appropriate for a more formal context maybe?
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UncleZeivAug 22 '11 at 13:12

I don't think it sounds out of place at all. It may not be a commonly used word, but it certainly fits. Keep in mind it was merely an example.
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RGW1976Aug 22 '11 at 13:35

I was answering OP's question: "Is there a single word that describes the state of not being happy with something but having to be satisfied with it?" I did not take the example given into consideration.
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RGW1976Aug 24 '11 at 21:35

I am unfamiliar with this figure of speech. "Nero" clearly, from your explanation, represents the concept of non-optimal choice when a choice must be made. Sounds like politics. Thus, depending on the context what you are referring to is a compromise

There is an informal expression "you'll have to lump it" which means more or less what you want. There is a further (stylistically neutral) expression "to put up with something" which is the same, e,g "you'll use have to put up with it".

Satisfy + Suffice = Satisfice. I remember it from SmashingMagazine's book #1 which talked about it in a chapter about UI and decision making. Not a real dictionary word, but it is widely used.

In decision making, satisficing explains the tendency to select the first option that meets a given need or select the option that seems to address most needs rather than the “optimal” solution. (Wikipedia)

While technically it talks about the process of finding the most optimal solution being too costly as the reason for choosing a less-optimal solution, I think it can still be used in your context.